The final half of the elementary school children are sent to the Hauptschule.

After a student graduates from a Hauptschule they cango on to a vocational school, which lasts about two years.

Teaches basic skills, including one foreign language, and prepares its pupils forapprenticeship or an unskilled or semiskilled role in the job market

Realschule

about 1/4 of the children attend Realschule.

t's possible to transfer from a Realschule to a ‘Gymnasium’.

After 6 years, the students graduate with a diploma the Mittlere Reife.

German School Hours

8:00am - 1:00pm

For children up to the age of about 12 there is an after school program.

Gesamschule

Another option for the parents is to send their children to a Gesamtschule (comprehensive school) which is attendedby students of all different abilities.

Students can also take their final exam (Abitur) at a so-called 'Kollegschule' which is associated with the Gesamtschule.

High School in Germany

In the last year of Grundschule the decision is made as to whether pupils will attend the Hauptschule , Realschule, Gymnasium, Gesamtschule is offered in some regions in Germany as an alternative. It combines these three types of high.

Private Schools

There are currently about 3,000 private schools in Germany, many of them boarding schools. These schools often have a longer school day.

Berufskollegs

German education system also includes vocational schools called Berufsschule or Berufskolleg, where studentsnormally aged between 16 and 19 can undertake a range of work-directed studies such as economics and specific business studies. These studies are usually directly related to an apprenticeship.